Relationships are a fundamental part of our human existence. They allow us to share our humanity with others, encourage and motivate us to keep trying and picking ourselves up when we fall, and give meaning to life.
There are many different types of relationships, each requiring its own level of effort to sustain, nurture and grow. A healthy relationship is one that provides you with a sense of fulfillment and joy, brings up your best qualities, makes you smile, helps you to be the best version of yourself, and inspires you to reach for the stars.
A healthy relationship can also be a good source of friendship, support and love. Often this comes from mutual respect and a deep understanding of each other’s needs. Ideally, both partners are comfortable sharing their feelings and are able to work through conflict without taking things personally. This is known as natural reciprocity and can be a very important part of any relationship.
A healthy relationship is also a partnership that is based on mutual commitment and trust. This could be in the form of a long term romantic commitment, a business partnership or even a family. Relationships are essential to our emotional well being and it is critical to have a healthy balance of positive relationships throughout your lifetime. This is especially true when the time comes to end a relationship. A therapist can be very helpful in this process to help you establish boundaries and move forward with your life.